Open-ended wrench with adjustable sockets

ABSTRACT

An elongated wrench body is provided in its end with a V-shaped notch which defines two adjacent sides of a four-sided open socket. A removable head is positioned on the body and projects therefrom to define two parallel opposing sides of the socket. A pair of strip-like spacers are slidably interposed between the head and the opposite side edges of the body and are projectable so that they are juxtaposed to the opposing sides of the socket for adjusting the effective span of the latter. The spacers are contained in recesses formed in the body and may be removed from the recesses upon removal of the head.

United States Patent [1 1 Cudd [ June 12, 1973 OPEN-ENDED WRENCH WITHADJUSTABLE SOCKETS [76] Inventor: Marvin L. Cudd, 5523 Capitol St.,

NE, Roanoke, Va. 24012 [22] Filed: July 6, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 159,702

[52] US. Cl. 81/185 [51] Int. Cl B25b 13/58 [58] Field of Search..81/179, 185,186,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,900,857 8/1959 Burnette81/185 236,114 12/1880 Totten 81/185 2,596,882 5/1952 Wiesen 81/1851,618,715 2/1927 L-ammers et al. 81/185 Primary Examiner-James Jones,Jr. Attorney-Munson H. Lane and Munson H. Lane. Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT An elongated wrench body is provided in its end with aV-shaped notch which defines two adjacent sides of a four-sided opensocket. A removable head is positioned on the body and projectstherefrom to define two parallel opposing sides of the socket. A pair ofstrip-like spacers are slidably interposed between the head and theopposite side edges of the body and are projectable so that they arejuxtaposed to the opposing sides of the socket for adjusting theeffective span of the latter. The spacers are contained in recessesformed in the body and may be removed from the recesses upon removal ofthe head.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAIENIEB I INVENTOR MARVIN L. CUDD ATTORNEYPAIENIEDJIII'ZIQH 3738.203

' INVENTOR l5 MARVINL CUDD ATTORNEY OPEN-ENDED WRENCH WITH ADJUSTABLESOCKETS This invention relates to new and useful improvements inwrenches, and inparticular the invention concerns itself with wrencheshaving an ope -ended socket, the effective span of which may be easilyadjusted by retractable and projectable spacers so that thewrench mayaccommodate nuts orboltheadsof different sizes.

While adjustable wrenches of this general type are known in the art,theprincipal object of the invention is to provide an improvedconstruction wherein the a wrench head is removably mounted on ,thewrench body and wherein the retractable and projectable spacers areinterposed between the body and the head so that they may be easilyremoved for purposes of inspection or replacement upon removal ofthe-head from the body.

The wrench of the invention is simple in construction, dependable inuse, and lends itself .to convenient and economical manufacture.

With the foregoing more important object and .features in view and suchother objects and ,feat ureswhich may become apparent as thisspecification proceeds, the invention will be understood from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like characters of reference designate like parts,and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a wrench inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view of one end portionthereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of ,the subject shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a group perspective view of the two spacers;

FIG. 5 is afragmentary perspective view,in exploded form, showing amodified embodiment of the wrench;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the ernbodirnentof FIG. 5 assembled;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional detail, ,taken sub stantially in theplane of the line7-7 inFIG. 6; ,and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of another modifiedembodiment.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings indetail, more particularlyto,FIGS. 1-4 inclusive, the adjustable wrench of the invention isdesignated generally by the reference numeral .10. The same'cornprisesanelongated wrenchbody 1 l which preferably is of a rec t angularcross-section, having a pair of opposite side edges 11a, 1 1b. A pair ofwrench headpnits 12 are provided at the opposite ends of .the'body 1 1.TBS? units are of different sizes but are identical in construction, sothat a description of one will suffice fbnboth.

As is best shown in FIG. 2, the end ofthe body 11 is provided with aV-shaped notch 13Iwhich defines two adjacent sides of a four-sided opensocket 14. A removable wrench head 15 is positioned on the end portionof the body 11 and projects 'therebeyond so as to define two parallelopposing sides 16, 17 0f the soeket I4..The

head 15 is removablymounted on the body ll by a pair of screws 18extending transversely through vthehe'ad and body, as will be readilyunderstood.

The side edges lla,. 1lb of the body 11 areprovided with recesses 19which accommodate a pair of slidable strip-like spacers 20, 21. Thesespacers are slidable'longitudinally from a retracted position whereinthey are flush with the end of the body 11, as shown by the spacer 21 inFIG. 2, to a projected position shown by the spacer 20, in which thespacers are juxtaposed to the respective opposing sides 16, 17 of thesocket 14. The ,two spacers have different thicknesses and when they areretracted, the socket 141 has a maximum effective span. However, wheneither one or both spacers are projected, the effective span of thesocket is correspondingly decreased to accommodate nuts or bolt heads ofdifi'erent sizes.

A finger-piece 22 is rigidly secured to the inner end of each'of thespacers 20, 21, the finger-pieces projecting slidably'throughslots 23formed in the head 15, so that the spacers may be easily slid betweentheir retracted and projected positions. Each finger-piece is alsoformed with a pair of longitudinally spaced depressions 24 forengagement by detents in the form of balls 25 which are contained in abore 26 formed in the body 11. A compression spring 27 in the bore 26urges the balls25 outwardly against the spacers 20, 21 and when theballs engage either one or the other of the depressions .24 in therespective spacers, the spacers are releasably held in either theirprojected or their retracted position.

It is tobe noted that upon removal of the screws 18, the .head 15together with the spacers 20, 21 may be readily removed from the body11, since the body recesses 1-9 become openwhen the head is removed. Thespacers may then be readily separated from the head. The parts, ofcourse, may be re-assembled with equal expediency. FIGS. 57 illustrate amodified embodiment of the wrench designated generally as 10a. For mostpartthis is of the same construction as the wrench 10 and correspondingreference numerals designate corresponding parts. However, the wrench10a embodies a slightly different arrangement of the detent rneansforreleasably retaining the spacers 20, 21 in eitherthe retracted orprojected position. Thus, in the wrench 10a, the side edges 11a, 11b ofthe body 11 are provided with the depressions 30 for the detent balls 31located in apertures 32 in the spacers 20, 21, (see FIG. 7). The balls31 are biased toward the body 1 1 and into engagement with thedepressions 30 by compression springs 33 which are held in hollowfinger-pieces 34.

Another modified embodiment is shown in FIG. 8, in which the centralaxis 40 of the wrench head 15 is offsetby an angle, such as an angle of12, from the longitudinal axis4l of the body 11 in order thatthe wrenchrnay be used in poorly'accessible locations. The sliding spacers in thehead 1 f the embodiment of FIG. 8 may utilize the locking detentarrangement of either FIGS. 1-4 or of FIGS. 5-7, as desired, and apartfrom the angular disposition of the head, the wrench construction isotherwise the same as already described.

Whilein the foregoing there have been described and shown the preferredembodiments of the invention, various modifications and equivalents maybe resorted to, ,within the spirit and scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is: j

1. An open-ended wrench with an adjustable socket, comprising incombination, an elongated substantially solid body provided in one endthereof with a V-shaped notch defining two adjacent sides of afour-sided open socket, a removable head telescopically positioned onsocket, detachable fastener means removably retaining said head inposition on the body, a pair of strip-like spacers interposed betweensaid head and the respective opposite side edges of said body, saidspacers being individually slidable from a retracted position whereinthey are flush with the end of the body to a projected position whereinthey are juxtaposed to the respective opposing sides of said socket foradjusting the effective span of the socket, and detent means forreleasable retaining said spacers in their projected and retractedpositions.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said opposite side edges ofsaid body are formed with elongated recesses slidably receiving therespective spacers therein, said recesses being open to facilitateremoval of the spacers therefrom when said head is removed from saidbody.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for removablyretaining said head on said body comprise at least one screw-threadedfastener extending through the head into the body.

4. The device as defined in claim 1 together with finger-pieces providedon said spacers and projecting slidably through slots formed in saidhead.

5. A wrench with an adjustable socket, comprising in combination anelongated body including an intermediate handle portion and opposite endportions; and at least one removable head positioned on-one of saidopposite end portions and projecting therebeyond, said head having anarrow neck portion for connection to said one end portion of said bodyand an enlargement in which a wrench socket isproyided, said neck havingan elongated opening extending therethrough in which said one endportion is slidably received, means removably retaining said head inpositionon said one end portion, said end portion having a pair ofopposite parallel side edges spaced from a like pair of oppositeparallel side walls in said head which extend through said neck intosaid enlargement and define two parallel opposite sides of said socket,a pair of strip-like spacers inter-' posed between said head and therespective opposite side edges of said body end portion, said spacersbeing individually slidable from a retracted position wherein they areflush with the end of said body end portion to a projected positionwherein they are juxtaposed to the respective opposing sides of saidsocket for adjusting the effective span of said socket, and detent meansfor releasably retaining said spacers in their projected and retractedpositions, each of said spacers being entirely encased between a sideedge of said body and a side wall of said head in retracted position.

6. The wrench set forth in claim 5 wherein said one end portion isangularly offset from said handle portion.

7. The wrench set forth in claim 5 wherein there are two removable headspositioned respectively on opposite end portions of said body, thewrench socket of the respective heads being of a different size withrespect to each other.

1. An open-ended wrench with an adjustable socket, comprising incombination, an elongated substantially solid body provided in one endthereof with a V-shaped notch defining two adjacent sides of afour-sided open socket, a removable head telescopically positioned onsaid one end portion of said body and projecting therebeyond to definetwo parallel opposing sides of said socket, detachable fastener meansremovably retaining said head in position on the body, a pair ofstrip-like spacers interposed between said head and the respectiveopposite side edges of said body, said spacerS being individuallyslidable from a retracted position wherein they are flush with the endof the body to a projected position wherein they are juxtaposed to therespective opposing sides of said socket for adjusting the effectivespan of the socket, and detent means for releasable retaining saidspacers in their projected and retracted positions.
 2. The device asdefined in claim 1 wherein said opposite side edges of said body areformed with elongated recesses slidably receiving the respective spacerstherein, said recesses being open to facilitate removal of the spacerstherefrom when said head is removed from said body.
 3. The device asdefined in claim 1 wherein said means for removably retaining said headon said body comprise at least one screw-threaded fastener extendingthrough the head into the body.
 4. The device as defined in claim 1together with finger-pieces provided on said spacers and projectingslidably through slots formed in said head.
 5. A wrench with anadjustable socket, comprising in combination an elongated body includingan intermediate handle portion and opposite end portions; and at leastone removable head positioned on one of said opposite end portions andprojecting therebeyond, said head having a narrow neck portion forconnection to said one end portion of said body and an enlargement inwhich a wrench socket is provided, said neck having an elongated openingextending therethrough in which said one end portion is slidablyreceived, means removably retaining said head in position on said oneend portion, said end portion having a pair of opposite parallel sideedges spaced from a like pair of opposite parallel side walls in saidhead which extend through said neck into said enlargement and define twoparallel opposite sides of said socket, a pair of strip-like spacersinterposed between said head and the respective opposite side edges ofsaid body end portion, said spacers being individually slidable from aretracted position wherein they are flush with the end of said body endportion to a projected position wherein they are juxtaposed to therespective opposing sides of said socket for adjusting the effectivespan of said socket, and detent means for releasably retaining saidspacers in their projected and retracted positions, each of said spacersbeing entirely encased between a side edge of said body and a side wallof said head in retracted position.
 6. The wrench set forth in claim 5wherein said one end portion is angularly offset from said handleportion.
 7. The wrench set forth in claim 5 wherein there are tworemovable heads positioned respectively on opposite end portions of saidbody, the wrench socket of the respective heads being of a differentsize with respect to each other.